Birds to See in Minnesota in September
157 bird species on our list for Minnesota are recorded regularly in September
Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, Downy Woodpecker, Canada Goose and White-breasted Nuthatch. New this month: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pine Siskin, Fox Sparrow and White-crowned Sparrow and 16 more.
On the move in September
GBIF · SepArriving
At their peak
Nashville WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Oct
Turkey VultureBusiest month of the year · Mar–Oct
Palm WarblerBusiest month of the year · Apr–May
Tennessee WarblerBusiest month of the year · May–Jun
Broad-winged HawkBusiest month of the year · Apr–Oct
Sharp-shinned HawkBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
From Minnesota’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 157 birds in September
157 birds
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 4.35% in Sep
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.21% in Sep
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.73% in Sep
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.68% in Sep
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.67% in Sep
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.34% in Sep
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Sep
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Sep
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.91% in Sep
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.86% in Sep
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusWinter visitorCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Sep
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Sep
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisSummer visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 1.63% in Sep
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 1.49% in Sep
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Sep
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Sep
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Sep
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.40% in Sep
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaSummer visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.21% in Sep- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 1.20% in Sep
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.16% in Sep
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 1.13% in Sep- Turkey VultureCathartes auraSummer visitorCommon62–81 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.12% in Sep
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.06% in Sep
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Sep
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 1.00% in Sep
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.93% in Sep
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Sep- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.82% in Sep
Rock DoveColumba liviaWinter visitorCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Sep
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.81% in Sep
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Sep- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaPassage migrantCommon10–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.79% in Sep
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Sep
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorResidentCommon139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Sep
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Sep
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaPassage migrantCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.67% in Sep
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.67% in Sep
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.65% in Sep
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorCommon18–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.64% in Sep
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorCommon80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.59% in Sep
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.59% in Sep
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.55% in Sep
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.54% in Sep
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.54% in Sep
Common RavenCorvus coraxWinter visitorCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Sep
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisSummer visitorCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Sep- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer visitorCommon34–44 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.51% in Sep
- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.48% in Sep
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorCommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.47% in Sep
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusSummer visitorUncommon19–22 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.45% in Sep
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaSummer visitorCommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.45% in Sep
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Sep
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.42% in Sep
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Sep
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.38% in Sep
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.37% in Sep
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.37% in Sep
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorUncommon32–36 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Sep
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataPassage migrantUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.35% in Sep
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.29% in Sep
Common LoonGavia immerSummer visitorCommon66–91 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.28% in Sep
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaPassage migrantUncommon14–14 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.27% in Sep
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.26% in Sep
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusPassage migrantUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.25% in Sep
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Sep
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.23% in Sep
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.22% in Sep
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.22% in Sep
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.22% in Sep
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Sep
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysPassage migrantCommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Sep
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer visitorCommon17–22 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.18% in Sep
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Sep
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.17% in Sep
Eurasian TealAnas creccaSummer visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.17% in Sep
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusSummer visitorUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Sep
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantUncommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.15% in Sep
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Sep
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.14% in Sep
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.14% in Sep
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.13% in Sep
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Sep
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer visitorUncommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.12% in Sep
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusWinter visitorCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Sep
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorCommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Sep
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.10% in Sep
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.09% in Sep
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.09% in Sep
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.08% in Sep
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.07% in Sep
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Sep
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.07% in Sep
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.07% in Sep
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaPassage migrantUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Sep
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.06% in Sep
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.06% in Sep
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Sep
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiPassage migrantUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaSummer visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.05% in Sep
SanderlingCalidris albaSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaPassage migrantCommon15–19 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.05% in Sep
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusPassage migrantUncommon16–17 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.05% in Sep
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaSummer visitorUncommon10–15 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer visitorCommon16–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.05% in Sep
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusPassage migrantUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Sep
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusSummer visitorUncommon18–19 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.04% in Sep
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensSummer visitorRare11–13 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.04% in Sep
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaSummer visitorUncommon16–26 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.03% in Sep
Virginia RailRallus limicolaSummer visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.03% in Sep
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisPassage migrantRare18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Sep
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Sep
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Sep
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.03% in Sep
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.03% in Sep
Forster's TernSterna forsteriSummer visitorUncommon33–36 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.02% in Sep
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensPassage migrantUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisSummer visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.02% in Sep
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Sep
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorRare58–65 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Sep
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorUncommon22–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer visitorUncommon28–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantRare27–33 cmRegularly Sep–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
Mute SwanCygnus olorSummer visitorUncommon140–160 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Sep
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresPassage migrantRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusPassage migrantUncommon23–32 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Sep
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaSummer visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.01% in Sep
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.01% in Sep
DunlinCalidris alpinaPassage migrantUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.01% in Sep
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataPassage migrantUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.00% in Sep
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantRare36–42 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Sep
Red KnotCalidris canutusPassage migrantRare23–26 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.00% in Sep
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusPassage migrantRare52–64 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.00% in Sep
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataPassage migrantRare53–69 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Sep
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made